After conducting interviews with Joe Girardi, Buck Showalter, and Dusty Baker last week, Phillies leadership is expected to welcome all three men back for follow-up interviews in the coming days, according to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer (link). Breen characterizes the hiring process as being in the “final stages”, with no other candidates slated to interview for the club’s open manager job.
GM Matt Klentak and assistant GM Ned Rice are leading the search, though actively involved owner John Middleton and team prez Andy MacPhail are expected to have a “say” in the final decision. Breen points to next Thursday as a potential window for the team to announce its final decision, as that day will mark the first pause in the World Series schedule of play.
Yesterday, news came that Girardi had stepped down as Team USA’s manager, presumably to focus on the numerous MLB hiring processes in which he is currently involved. Philadelphia is looking for an experienced successor to Gabe Kapler, who was dismissed after two years at the helm on the heels of a disappointing 2019 campaign that left them in fourth place in the NL East.
My votes for Girardi.
I’d laugh at this. I still think they will finish above the Mets next season.
Braves
Nationals
Phillies
Mets
Marlins
In that order
depends on the offseason moves that are made. Does Stras/Rendon leave or stay? Do the Phils actually make some decent pitching moves? Do the Braves resign Keuchel or get another top of the rotation arm? NL East will be very interesting this offseason
It’s turning into the most competitive division in baseball. in my opinion. The records this year are not indicative of how good the teams as a whole really were. The Nats are proving that now. I would expect more of the same next season and I am looking forward to it. .
I just think baseball in general is getting more competitive. In what other sport do you see this much fluctuation of postseason teams? Red Sox won the WS last year and didnt make the playoffs this year. Cubs didnt make the playoffs. Nats and Braves made it over Philly. Smaller market like Oakland/Milwaukee/Tampa/Arizona are getting their recognition. Seems like each year we see a team make a run that we were not expecting.
I would say the NFL does a great job of rotating teams from good to not so good, and then back again.
I don’t know if I can say it’s overall more competitive per se, as a certainly hate the “tanking” that teams have done like the NBA. However, I do believe there is more parody in baseball than other sports and the competitive balance is there with the small market teams.
I’m a complete salary cap hater, so even though I am a fan of the big market Phillies, I love seeing smaller markets like the Royals, A’s, Brewers, etc exceed in a sport that does not have one.
agreed! Alot of the times, the lack of salary cap bites big market teams. Famous example is the Red Sox ownership throwing tons of money at Pablo, Crawford, Adrian Gonzales, the Angels tossing all that money at Pujols has hindered their spending the last few seasons. While its nice to have lots of money to spend, there are instances where those big contracts are more trouble than they are worth. Teams that spend alot seem to have a hard time unloading those big contracts and end up like the Red Sox are right now, trying to stay under the luxury tax while being in contention, with a depleted farm system.
Yes Sir! It goes to show you that there is “more than one way to skin a cat” to be consistently successful in MLB. Just because you have deep pockets that does not mean you have the advantage.
Having deep pockets is a DEFINITION of an advantage regarding the acquisition of players. What you guys are talking about is having deep pockets AND making bad decisions. Money is no protection against that.
Depends on off-season moves? Does it though? Spend $500M and they finish where? Kapler to whomever will have a few plus-wins by default.
Yes it does. If the Nats let Rendon/Strasburg walk, dont you think that dramatically affects things in the East? Or if the Phils decide to not add quality arms? offseason moves are going to directly change the flow of teams in every division–its a matter of if they are smart moves,, and if they pan out of course (injuries, down seasons, and so on)
Except the Patriots still win the super bowl nearly every year.
apples to oranges. two completely different sports.
I don’t think the braves resign keuchel but I will be surprised if they don’t make a run @ bumgarner if he doesn’t accept the QO
You can have the deepest pockets in the game but if you don’t have good scouting it doesn’t matter. Phillies are a prime example of that. They have money but they can’t draft. They have to spend their way into contention.
I agree. Btw, you’re meaning parity here, not parody.
Have to agree, except for the Mets & Marlins.
Yes, that’s what I meant. Spell check checks spelling, not grammar lol.
Yep. The Phillies buy what they can’t develop on their own. One big problem with that plan is most of the FA Klentak has signed during his four years have ben busts.
We got the wrong guy running the show in Klentak. Ivy league nerd. . Hoping Cigar Guy is more like George Steinbrenner than Dave Montgomery.
I don’t think it’s Klentak so much as it is McFAIL. Middleton would do best to jettison that waste of space as soon as possible.
When it comes to Klentak, he’s a young GM making first-timer growing pains mistakes. For example, his 2018 mid-season acquisitions were terrible. In 2019, he learned and did well getting Brice and Dickerson. Even his bullpen moves with Moran, Parker, and Hughes weren’t that bad considering they came from the proverbial junkyard.
Same thing with signings. Sure, Santana was an experiment that proved a mistake, but Klentak corrected it quite nicely. I can’t blame him for Cutch ethier. He was playing to that contract before he got hurt. If he can do more of the same this coming season, that contract could prove to be a win.
Arrieta is another story. That was just flat out bad.
Woods Rider: Klentak is in way over his head. Been on the job four years and Bryce Harper is the only FA he signed who has panned out. Four years is more than enough time to get over growing pains. At some point ya gotta bite the bullet and admit Klentak isn’t going to grow into anything special.
@ Lou I never said I was a Klentak supporter, I’n not. He’s got one more year of my patience in my book as 5 years is more the norm for expected results. That said, if something doesn’t happen, I expect there will be a new GM in place this time next season.
Hopefully, if that is the case, we will see a new President as well as I feel that any new GM would be set up for McFAILure.
Have you heard of the AL East?
The market size does not matter in football nor hockey.
It means all of the difference in baseball.Arguers against football note the Patriots.They May very well be the greatest team ever in any sport given their record in the 2000’s.Belicheck and Brady have made them a true outlier.And that is coming from a Steelers fan.
It is easiest to go from worst to first in those two sports.You can wait with the Orioles,Tigers,Royals,and Marlins to see how long that will take.
The NBA is less competitive than baseball because of the need to have a couple superstars and thus the need to tank.
How many small market teams have won the WS series since 1991? The answer is one.
The Nats losing Harper didn’t seem to hurt them…
Mets young position players and rotation is much better than the Phillies is
Too early for rankings. Variables… Many teams that do well one season cannot repeat for different reasons (2018/2019 Red Sox)…
I am good with any of the 3. If it is Dusty, and the Phillies make the post-season, I will DVR any of those games after I see the final score…
Out of the three, that would be my pick as well.
Girardi is a terrific manager. I also enjoy hearing him talk when hes an analyst for postseason–brings a lot of great insight
Agreed. Anytime I think I know something about baseball, all I need to do is watch Girardi on MLB Network and I find that I don’t know nearly s much as I think I do.
he tells it like it is, and as a huge of the game, I appreciate it. Cant stand the homer announcers/analysts.
*huge fan of the game
Girardi started off rough, but they won in 2009 despite his being glued to books and rigid in his ideas. But he impressed me when he adapted. The Yankees had some good and bad seasons and he became a good manager. I think Steinbrenner was stupid for letting him walk.
I say that after watching them trample the Phillies in 2009 too. I could live with any of these 3. All are different, but all could handle Harper being Harper, the pitching, and most of all the fans.
Dusty will get the job.
Harper played for him in 2017 and likes him.
I kind of agree with the reasoning (though I think Girardi will get it). I am hoping Harper did not seriously get the final pick.
Joe Girardi steps down as USA Baseball manager tells the story…
I must agree, based on the trio. Buck is yesterday’s news, And I’m surprised anybody thinks he’s even worthy of a cursory glance, and Baker has never demonstrated managerial ability anyway. I loathe the Yankees, but Girardi has earned respect. He’s a good choice for any team.
I say it’s going to Buck in Philly,even though I think Girardi is best
id love to see them steal Girardi right out from under NYM’s nose. unlikely, but it would be pretty sick.
I don’t know. Going from managing the NYY to the NYM is like moving from the Hamptons to Newark.
Philly has a totally different vibe and I think he’d love it and the city would love him.
Woods, I agree. It is kind of weird to say this, but NYY and PHI fans kind of mirror each other, which is why they hate each other LOL. The vibe in Philly is much the same as Yankee Stadium. Different ways and traditions, but the same energy.
It was a sham from the beginning. There was never going to be anyone but Buck.
I hope I’m wrong but I think it will be a case of the Phillies totally unimaginative front office strikes again.
There’s an argument for and against each. All 3 are capable of winning. I think Showalter gets this job, Girardi goes to the Cubs. And Baker goes home.
I agree as I believe all are good managers. My hope is Girardi in Philly. He’d be a winner in the dugout and the biggest winner with the fanbase. If it costs and extra million per year, the Phillies should do it.
Girardi would be my choice as a Phillies fan
I agree. Girardi should be the next manager of the Phillies.
Girardi’s dream job was always with Cubs
I can imagine whichever one is selected, the first individual player meeting would be with Harper to make sure he is on board with their vision….whatever that might be. He is the straw that stirs the drink… Isn’t that why they brought him to Philly….Dusty strikes me as a little more easy going
hozie007…………..
I doubt they are overly concerned. Why? Because Harper said one big reason for signing with Philly was that he really liked Kapler and wanted to play for him. If they were very concerned, Middleton might not have fired Gabe. Also if pleasing Bryce is a big concern then Dusty is the answer as Harper stated that he loved playing for Baker.
Actually the whispers were quite the opposite. That Gabe Kapler almost turned Harper off from signing with the Phillies when he met with him. There’s a reason it took the owner flying out personally with his wife to convince Harper to sign with the Phillies. I don’t think Harper had any personal issue with Kapler, but I’m sure he feels he’s played for better ones, that’s for sure.
The Phillies will go with an experienced manager who has won two pennants and a World Series. This is a given and the new manager will be Charlie Manuel. Why do you think they hired him back last year?
I think Girardi goes to the Cubs, Showalter goes to the Padres- really it is 2019 in the Me Too era when we are dealing with an opioid crisis. Right or wrong- Ron Washington won’t get a chance with his history. Machado wants Showalter and they do have a lot of young talent. Ausmus winds up with the Royals or Pirates, Kapler for some crazy reason will get the SF job, even though he does not deserve another shot. The big loser will be the Mets- they will try and do something out of the box and make a dumb decision. Team has loads of talent and fired a manager who finished 10 games above .500. Even though logic dictates under those circumstances you hire and experienced manager they will do something dumb and hire Eduardo Perez. Nothing against Perez- it is just the Mets scream “job for someone with experience”, that is the way to go and they won’t do it. Callaway should actually get another shot- if I ran the Royals I would go with him.
I agree with jsay2948. That is exactly how I see it. Although I think Girardi would be the best fit for the Phillies.
Who sells tickets? With a disappointed fan base, which manager instills confidence for season ticket holders to renew? Unless the play is to sign Cole, the next big decision is the manager.
It’s the Phillies.
So I can them going hard for Girardi, end up missing on him. They settle with Dusty.
I’m hoping for Girardi…but I’d rather have Dusty than Buck.
If there was any doubt that Klentak didn’t have a say in the next manager before, now after seeing these are the only names interviewed there is no doubt.
Where does Joe stand on analytics? I understand looking at percentage as far as middle to late inning pitching and hitting matchups but the analytical way of the game is gotten so far out of hand it is almost as if no one has faith in the players at hand at times. If it’s a homerun, it’s a homerun, who cares what the launch angle or exit velocity was? FIP? Another dumb useless stat. Anyway, the Phillies need the most baseball (not analytical) experienced manager to guide the guys.
He isn’t called “Binder” Joe for nothing!
Please hire Girardi so I don’t have to see him or hear him anymore.
Thurman89er: As an Angels fan, you have more to worry about than Girardi’s acumen as an announcer/studio commentator. You should trade Mike Trout to the Phillies. He’d hit 50-60 in our park.
I think trout hits 50-60 at some point anyways lol
Girardi will be Metropolitans skipper.
This is the Mets dream scenario. The Phillies sign Showalter, the Cubs hire Girardi and the Mets are left to sign a cheap guy.
I wonder if Harpers previous experience, good or bad, willbgo into a Baker decision.
Padres will go with Ron Washington. Phillies will do Showalter. Cubs will do Girardi. Not sure if/where Dusty Baker will manage if he doesn’t get the Phillies job, but it’s a shame because I actually really like Dusty Baker.
Baker has to be a recommendation from Harper. Just a hunch.
Girardi should be the hire.
Looks like the Phillies have gone from one extreme to the other. Bringing in a Sabermetrics guy like Kapler, who was very GM friendly to the opposite of either Baker, Girardi or Showalter, who are more traditional, strong-minded managers. Maybe trying to save face a bit and saying that the managers make the on the field decisions and not us. If these decisions go badly its’ on the managers not GM.
Probably gonna be baker ,
All three are veteran presences in the clubhouse and dugout. My vote would be for Girardi, but I don’t get a vote.
A few pitching tweaks and the Phillies are a contender. Especially with the Nationals having so many FA (10) and options (5 not including Strasburg) question marks at the end of the season.
Girardi is the ONLY one of the three who will get the fans excited. Excited fans buy tickets. Showalter or Baker? Nah, nowhere near the fan appeal of Girardi. Girardi is the smart choice if the choices are just those three.
Me? I think Mark DeRosa is the next Craig Counsel or Aaron Boone in waiting. Philly would fall in love with DeRosa in a second. Former U of P quarterback when Penn was winning Ivy League titles and a veteran of 13 MLB seasons where he was an asset for each team he played for.
Agreed Lou. GIrardi would put some butts in the seats. Not Harper level, but more than Kapler did. How many Philly area NYY fans that normally wouldn’t go to a game will come out to see Joe? My guess is quite a few.
He may add a thousand or so seats to each home game. Nothing to sneeze at.
Please no dusty Baker ughhh
Larry Bowa….one more chance.
If Phillies think that Kapler was not good enough to get it done, then Girardi isn’t the answer. Yankee fans were so annoyed at Giriradi for him failing to lock it down with all the talent on the team. Baker will only blow out the pitching arms as he has done with so many other pitchers. Showalter is the only logical choice. Besides, Girardi will favor the Cubs over any other team if he is in the running there. If they do sign Baker, they better not sign or extend any pitchers to long term deals. Most pitchers that pitched under Baker developed injuries within a few years due to overuse.